God of War seeks online vengeance in Ascension

Updated 6:36 pm, Thursday, March 21, 2013

Kratos is imprisoned for revoking Ares in the origin story â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

Kratos is imprisoned for revoking Ares in the origin story â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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Kratos begins his quest for vengeance in the origin story â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

Kratos begins his quest for vengeance in the origin story â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

â€œGod of War: Ascensionâ€

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Sarah Kerrigan attempts to reunite the zerg swarm in "StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm."

Sarah Kerrigan attempts to reunite the zerg swarm in "StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm."

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

"StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm"

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"Sniper Elite V2"

"Sniper Elite V2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

"Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2"

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"Sniper Elite V2"

"Sniper Elite V2"

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"Sniper Elite V2"

"Sniper Elite V2"

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"Sniper Elite V2"

"Sniper Elite V2"

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"Sniper Elite V2"

"Sniper Elite V2"

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"Sniper Elite V2"

"Sniper Elite V2"

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"Sniper Elite V2"

"Sniper Elite V2"

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Courtesy MadCatz

Courtesy MadCatz

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Courtesy MadCatz

Courtesy MadCatz

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Courtesy MadCatz

Courtesy MadCatz

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Courtesy MadCatz

Courtesy MadCatz

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Courtesy MadCatz

Courtesy MadCatz

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God of War seeks online vengeance in Ascension

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Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta, is heading online to “kill it out” in God of War's first venture into multiplayer online chaos with the series' seventh installment, “God of War: Ascension.”

I know some will sigh and say, “Big deal, another God of War game.” But I've found gamers with that kind of attitude toward franchise mass-market games tend to be self-important, indie-obsessed boobs. Hack and slash tastes good, baby, so stop whining and play already.

I was wary when the beta of Ascension's multiplayer hit PlayStation Network back in January. Kratos' continuing search for vengeance in the single-player mode has always been the best part of God of War.

I hope its online play, while spot on, won't take away from its engaging stories and turn the series into a Call of Duty clone. I love COD, but the storylines have taken on a side role with each installment, with the game's multiplayer now being the main draw.

In Ascension online play, gamers will find the series' fluid combat system of button mash combos works just as nicely on fellow gamers as it does on Olympian gods and other mythical beings.

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There are four game modes in multiplayer for eight-and-four-player teams. The types of games are free-for-all, death match, capture the flag and team favor of the gods. A fifth unnamed game mode will be available with the full game when it releases Tuesday. Also in the full game, you'll be able to customize your multiplayer avatar with weapons and armor, and have the ability to level up.

As described by the developers, the single-player story follows the tone of previous games. It takes place about a decade before the events in the first game — just months after Ares tricked Kratos into killing his own family, setting the vengeance theme for the entire series.

Getting to know Kratos from his early days, when he was still human, is enough for fans to jump this game, but its multiplayer is fun and engaging enough to appeal to a wider market.

Well, now that that nasty bit of business is out of the way, let's bust orbit and check out “StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.” This is the first expansion and second part of the trilogy for the popular “StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.”

One of the best video game villains ever, her majesty Queen of Blades, a.k.a. Sarah Kerrigan, takes the starring role in Heart of the Swarm as she attempts to regain leadership of the fractured zerg following its devastating loss at the end of Wings of Liberty. The expansion features 20 missions and new units and maps for its multiplayer component.